ShowBiz

Mumbai, Oct 1 (IANS) Bollywood star couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh put all rumours about their separation to rest by sharing flirty exchanges on social media.

Ranveer shared a picture of him on Instagram, where he is seen dressed in a bubble gum pink suit. He completed the look by keeping his hair untied.

He captioned it with a pink heart emoji.

Putting a full stop to speculations about their split, Deepika dropped a flirty message on the comment section.

She wrote: "Edible."

To which, Ranveer replied with a smirk and a kiss emoji.

This is not the first time Deepika and Ranveer have engaged on PDA on social media. The power-couple keep sharing pictures and loved-up comments on their social media for each other.

Ranveer and Deepika tied the knot in December 2018 after falling in love with each other on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela.. Ram-Leela', which released in 2013.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 1 (IANS) Bollywood star Ajay Devgn is all set to hit the goal once again with his performance in 'Maidaan', which will be released on February 17, next year.

Ajay's 'Maidaan' is the true story of the unknown hero, Syed Abdul Rahim, who brought glory to India. It is based on the golden era of Indian football.

Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma of the 'Badhai Ho' fame, 'Maidaan' also features Priyamani, Gajraj Rao and the well-known Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh.

Produced by Zee Studios, Boney Kapoor, Akash Chawla, and Arunava Joy Sengupta, screenplay and dialogues are written by Saiwyn Quadras and Ritesh Shah respectively.

Currently, Ajay awaits the release of his film 'Thank God', which also stars Sidharth Malhotra, Rakul Preet Singh and Nora Fatehi. The film is directed by Indra Kumar.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 1 (IANS) Krushna Abhishek will be seen hosting a segment on the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss' titled 'Bigg Buzz', where evicted contestants would be grilled by comedian and actor after they leave the house.

Krushna shared: 'Bigg Boss' has been the most loved reality show since its very first season, and I'm thrilled to be hosting 'Bigg Buzz' where I get to take the class and have some fun with the evicted contestants and share the inside news with the audience."

He added: "Ghar ke andar Bigg Boss unki class lenge, aur ghar ke bahar mein. With the new format of this show, I will take it to another level. I am looking forward to the contestants spilling the beans on the show and adding more masala and tadka to the show with my presence."

The show will be aired on Voot exclusively starting October 9.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Oct 1 (IANS) Four of the five children in conflict with the law (CCL) held as accused in the Jubilee Hills gang rape-case, are to be tried as adults, the Juvenile Board ruled on Friday.

The five along with a sixth person had been held in the sensational case that had rocked the state a few months ago.

The fifth CCL, who is the son of an MIM lawmaker is to be tried as a juvenile, ruled principal magistrate G Radhika. His case is to be transferred to the children's court.

The magistrate did not concur with a board member who had opined that the children in conflict with the law (CCL) may have been lured by the welcoming approach of the victim and that they do not have legal education and hence unable to understand the legal consequences."

Noting that CCL were neither under the influence of alcohol or other substances, the principal concluded there were no compelling circumstances for them to commit the crime.

The sensational case had the opposition parties attacking the ruling TRS party in Telangana and the police department shielding the MLA's son by invoking milder sections of the law against him.

--IANS
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By Vikas Datta
Films, especially of Bollywood, are usually escapist from the uncompromising reality and leverage a willing suspension of disbelief by the viewer for the simulacrum of our world they create.


However, this accomplished Indian film-maker was adept in making movies that recreated the ethos and concerns of the middle class, which seemed like their own experiences, not a contrived story.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee eschewed formulaic 'masala' potboilers (with plenty of flailing fists, sultry beauties and unspeakable villains or those of love triangles and misunderstandings) or intense "art movies", to create a unique "middle-of-the road" and popular films - wide-ranging and even provocative - but also guaranteed to touch you.

He was also deft in using established stars against their typecast images - heartthrob Rajesh Khanna in a deglamourised role of a terminally-ill but still cheerful patient and later, as a humble cook with a secret agenda, action man Dharmendra displaying his sensitive side as a man of principle who meets a tragic end, and in another film, his comic genius in a gambit to show up an uppity relative, and Amitabh Bachchan - well before he became a household name - as a cynical doctor, and then, as an insecure and jealous singer.

Mukherjee, who would have turned 100 on this day (September 30), only made 42 films in a four decade-odd career - with a ten-year hiatus between the second-last and the last - but they stand out for their insightful look into believable human problems and foibles, prosaic but edifying themes which never transgressed into preaching or agendas, lively music, and generous helpings of humour (whenever apt).

They also easily swung across genres, created some of the most memorable characters seen onscreen (remember Dhurandar Bhatawadekar?), and reprised plots and motifs in various innovative ways - an incident sad and poignant in one, and flighty and humorous in the next - using the same actors, eg. Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore in "Satyakam" and "Chupke Chupke".

Part of this can be attributed to his background. A chemistry graduate from the University of Calcutta and a science teacher too, he chose a career in films, working first as a cameraman, and then as film editor, in New Theatres in the late 1940s. He then worked with Bimal Roy in Mumbai as film editor and assistant director from 1951, before branching out as an independent filmmaker towards the end of the decade.

His skill as editor and focus on the script, as many of those who worked with him attest, helped to ensure the finesse in his films - most scenes were shot in two or maximum three takes.

While Mukhejee is best known for the rather sombre "Anand" (1971), and the laugh riots "Chupke Chupke" (1975), and "Gol Maal" (1979), he had a wide and varied repertoire - right from his debut "Musafir" (1957), which was not only of the first "portmanteau" film, comprising three separate episodes linked by a single theme, but a casting coup in being the only film to star Dilip Kumar and Kishore Kumar.

However, it was not successful commercially and he only hit the limelight with his second outing "Anari", which transformed Raj Kapoor's Chaplinesque persona to a more believable avatar and fetched the showman his first Filmfare Award for acting.

These were followed by the sensitive and ahead of its time "Anuradha" (1960) with Balraj Sahni and Leela Naidu, the effervescent "Asli Naqli" (1962) with Dev Anand and Sadhana, the enigmatic "Sanjh Aur Savera" (1964), where Guru Dutt, in his final screen performance, was paired with Meena Kumari, "Gaban" (1966), starring Sunil Dutt, and possibly one of the best screen adaptations of a Premchand work, the morbid "Satyakam" (1969) with Dharmendra in his most unusual role, among many others.

However, it was Chatterjee's work in the 1970s that comprises some landmark Indian films - While "Anand" came out in 1971, so did "Guddi", where Dharmendra, who plays himself, teams up with a young Jaya Bhaduri's uncle (Utpal Dutt) to acquaint her with the reality of the film industry, "Bawarchi" (1972) where Rajesh Khanna cooks up concord and understanding in a fractious family, "Abhimaan" and "Namak Haraam" (1973), the Wodehousian "Chupke Chupke" (1975), and then "Gol Maal" (1979), where the Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt chemistry was stupendous.

He kept up the pace in the 1980s with "Khubsoorat" (1980), with Rekha and Rakesh Roshan, "Naram Garam" (1981) with favourites Palekar and Dutt joined by Swaroop Sampat and Shatrughan Sinha, "Rang Birangi" (1983), where Palekar was joined by Parveen Babi, Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh, and "Kissise Na Kehna" (1983) with Dutt, Deepti Naval and Farooq Sheikh.

However, it was by this time, he seemed to lose steam and though he worked till the end of the decade, the usual sparkle was lacking with the changing mores and norms and most of his actors going back to doing what they were better known for. He emerged in the end 1990s with "Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate", starring Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Amrish Puri, but this was his swan song, ahead of his death in 2006.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS
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By Vikas Datta
Hindi movies are known for their heroes/heroines, but the villains, or rather, actors in villainous roles, are the heavy lifters. As against Dilip Kumar's around 70, Rajesh Khanna's over 170 and Amitabh Bachchan's 250-odd films, Prem Chopra appeared in 370-odd over 60 years, Pran - the template for the Hindi film villain - in over 380 films in 67 years, and Madan Puri went on to clock well over 400 in more than four decades.


With his pervasive presence in movies, of all types from the 1940s to the 1980s, a popular saying in the times was -- "if you wanted to make a movie then all you needed was an Arriflex camera, some raw film, and Madan Puri".

Whether the film was mythological or historic, a social or family drama, a romantic or crime thriller, featuring secret agents, hippies or NRIs, a gem of a parallel cinema, or the angry young man era, Madan Puri - who has the unique distinction of acting both with K.L. Saigal and Amitabh Bachchan - could be somewhere in it, and not necessarily in a negative role.

Born on this day (September 30) in 1915 in Punjab's Nawanshahr, Madan Puri, who is now chiefly known as the elder brother of Amrish 'Mogambo' Puri, was a versatile and multi-facetted actor, whose "everyman" face could turn saturnine, sinister, devious, haggard, or kindly, when needed.

That enabled him to portray corrupt businessmen, edgy doctors, knife-happy gangsters, stern fathers, amiable uncles, conscientious or corrupt police officers, heartless money-lenders, eccentric scientists, seedy night-club owners, sneering pimps, brutal jailors, duplicitous politicians, devious foreign agents, bloodthirsty dacoits and many more.

Madan Puri also had to his credit a double hat-trick of playing a Chinese villain, playing the role in at least six notable Hindi films - John Chang in Ashok Kumar-Madhubala crime noir "Howrah Bridge" (1958), Chang in international caper "Singapore" (1960) and Joseph Wong in the noirish "China Town" (1962), both starring Shammi Kapoor, Comrade Chang in spy thriller "Shatranj" (1969), yet another Chang in Dev Anand's "Prem Pujari" (1970), and then Wong again in "Saazish" (1975), an international crime caper starring Dharmendra and Sairu Banu.

He was also the "Captain", of an unnamed enemy power, in the spy flick "Aankhen" (1968), starring Dharmendra and Mala Sinha.

Coming from a family, broadminded (for those days) enough not to scorn the acting profession - since his cousin was the legendary K.L. Saigal, Madan Puri was fond of acting since his early days with his first starring performance being a 1936 play at Simla's Gaiety Theatre - Pran was the female lead!

Though he was not the first of his siblings to join and shine in films - eldest brother Chaman Puri was a character actor in several films - Madan Puri moved to Bombay in the early 1940s, when he was helped into films by Saigal.

After some uncredited bit roles from "Khazanchi" (1941), he, like many others, wanted and began as a hero, but these films never clicked and he found his niche as a villain - on the suggestion of Dev Anand.

Thus began an eventful career that spanned four decades, mostly as an egregious, and chronic villain, though he later switched to roles of a kindly elder, and only came to an end when he succumbed to a sudden heart attack in 1985.

His notable villainous roles, apart from the Chinese appearances, were as the jealous rich man Manilal in "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje" (1955), blackmailing employee Rajan in Kishore Kumar-starrer science fiction comedy "Mr. X in Bombay" (1964), Dr. Acharya in the Agatha Christie-influenced remote isle murder thriller "Gumnaam" (1965), the volatile henchman Balbir in "Waqt" (1965), the lecherous Madan Chicagowala in "Shagird" (1967), and rival gang-leader Samant in "Deewaar" (1975), among others.

On the other hand, Madan Puri also made his mark as the faithful employee - for a change - in Shammi Kapoor's "Kashmir Ki Kali" (1964), public prosecutor Khanna in terse murder mystery/courtroom drama "Ittefaq" (1969), the nostalgic London-based expatriate Sharma in "Purab Aur Paschim" (1970) - who listens to Saigal records!, the second of three Mahesh Jetleys, who are "conspiring to murder their wives" in "Hulchul" (1971), Dilip Kumar's henchman Khushiram Khusal Singh in "Vidhaata" (1982), and many more.

His other prominent films include "Majboor" (1974), "Manoranjan" (1974), "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan" (1974), "The Godfather"-inspired "Dharmatma" (1975), "Mehbooba" (1976), "Kalicharan" (1976), "Shirdi Ke Sai Baba" (1977), "The Great Gambler" (1979), "Jaani Dushman" (1979), "Noorie" (1979), "Alibaba Aur 40 Chor" (1980), "The Burning Train" (1980), "Kranti" (1981), "Andha Kanoon" (1983), "Hero" (1983), and "Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar" (1984).

As Madan Puri once said, he was "the aloo-pyaz that can be put in any Bollywood dish".

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is hosting quiz-based reality show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati, says that each hour on the set has been a revelation for him and has brought an emotion that he had not experienced in such volume.

Amitabh has been a part of the show since its inception in 2000. However, it was in 2003, when he was not a part of the show and superstar Shah Rukh Khan stepped into his shoes for the third season.

"Each hour on the sets of KBC has been a huge revelation for me and has brought an emotion that perhaps I had not experienced in such volume and fervour .. " he wrote in his blog.

Big B added: "Love presents an immense gravity that pulls one down from whatever perched position they have been in .. gives its immense environ to encompass all .. its so involving and at times for keeps .. the affection in speech and form .."

"The words of togetherness and admiration have always been so inspiring .. they are the reason for the liberated fervour .. they .. the audience .. the younger generation the older and the mid range .. when there is none of this .. life lies listless and weak."

On the film front, Amitabh, who was last seen on the big screen in Ayan Mukerji's 'Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva', is gearing up for the release of upcoming film 'Good Bye'.

--IANS
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Kochi, Sep 30 (IANS) Malayalam actor Sreenath Bhasi, who was arrested for allegedly abusing a woman reporter during an interview and later secured bail, got a big relief on Friday when she withdrew her complaint.

According to sources in the know of things, it was after discussions initiated by a film body, the woman agreed to withdraw her complaint when the actor apologised to her for his behaviour. The Kerala High Court has been duly informed about the development.

On Monday, the Maradu police, after receiving a complaint from the woman journalist of Bhasi's curt behaviour, called him for questioning and after a while his arrest was recorded.

Since the charges which were put were all bailable ones, he immediately got bail from the Police station itself.

But things appeared to go worse for Bhasi after the police probe team on Tuesday decided to delve deeper into the case and as part of the investigation, the samples of his nails, hair and blood were taken to be sent for more laboratory tests to ascertain if he takes drugs.

Bhasi lost his cool when questions were posed at him during the promotion of his latest film, 'Chattambi'.

Sensing trouble, he later apologised for his rude behaviour and said that his reaction was just like someone else's when insulted.

Bhasi, who began his career as a radio jockey, turned a video jockey and made his debut as an actor in 'Pranayam' in 2011 that turned out to be a blockbuster. The film was directed by Blessy and starred Mohanlal and Anupam Kher. After that there was no looking back, so far, he has acted in around 50 films.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS) A special film festival titled 'Bachchan Back To The Beginning' will be held from October 8 to October 11 to mark the momentous occasion of the 80th birthday of the veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

The festival will celebrate the actor through his landmark early films across 17 Indian cities, covering 172 showcases and 30 screens across 22 cinema halls. The unique festival has been announced by Film Heritage Foundation in partnership with PVR Cinemas.

Film Heritage Foundation, founded by filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, has curated a collection of eleven blockbuster films that gave birth to one of the biggest superstars of the nation who continues to shine as brightly over 50 years since his debut on the silver screen.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation said in a statement: "Growing up, I was the biggest Amitabh Bachchan fan. I used to break bounds when I was in school to watch his films and was often thrown out of class in college for sitting in the back benches and writing notes about his films. I am so glad that the Film Heritage Foundation is paying tribute to Mr. Bachchan on his 80th birthday with the first-of-its-kind country-wide four-day festival."

Speaking about the curated list of films, he further noted: "It has been a mammoth task putting together the best of his early films that launched him as a superstar and to showcase these films so that audiences across the country can enjoy the films the way they were originally screened - on the big screen. I know that this will be the first of many festivals that will bring our cinematic heritage back to the theatres where it belongs."

The showcase will cover cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad to Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Raipur, Kanpur, Kolhapur, Prayagraj and Indore and will screen films such as 'Don', 'Kaala Patthar', 'Kaalia', 'Kabhie Kabhie', 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Namak Halaal', 'Abhimaan', 'Deewar', 'Mili', 'Satte Pe Satta' and 'Chupke Chupke'.

To coincide with the film festival, Film Heritage Foundation that is dedicated to the preservation, restoration, documentation and exhibition of India's film heritage will also set up an exhibition of rare Amitabh Bachchan memorabilia at PVR Juhu in Mumbai.

The narrative of the exhibition will be told through arresting framed visuals, celebrating decades of success, fandom and accolades. The exhibition, curated by film historian, author and archivist S. M. M. Ausaja, will entail a diverse and carefully curated collection of memorabilia, including rare vintage posters, commissioned artworks, photographs, LP jackets, magazine covers, a giant 7 feet standee and the original Shahenshah costume.


--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS) Sussanne Khan has said that 'Vikram Vedha' starring her former husband Hrithik Roshan, is by far her most favourite movie ever.

Sussanne took to Instagram, where she shared a poster of the film and wrote: "RA RA RA RAaRooooom this is by far one of my favourite movies ever!!! Superrrrbly gripping and full of Thrillssss!! Congratulations @hrithikroshan@saifalikhan_online and the entire team for this tremendous entertainer!!!"

She also declared the movie a "blockbuster", just like Saif Ali Khan's actress wife Kareena Kapoor Khan.

"This one is going to be a huggge BLOCKBUSTER," Sussanne wrote.

'Vikram Vedha' is an action-thriller written & directed by Pushkar-Gayatri.

The story of Vikram Vedha is full of twists and turns, as the tough cop Vikram sets out to track and chase a dreaded gangster Vedha.

'Vikram Vedha' is presented by Gulshan Kumar, T-Series and Reliance Entertainment in association with Friday Filmworks & Jio Studios and a YNOT Studios Production.

The film is directed by Pushkar and Gayatri and produced by Bhushan Kumar & S. Sashikanth and Reliance Entertainment.

--IANS
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